Yesterday Southwest Airlines announced that it wanted to test some new environmentally friendly materials on a refurbished airplane that they are dubbing the “green plane.” The measures to create the environmentally friendly, recycled plane would cut the weight on an airplane and would save the company over $10 million in fuel costs if it changed all its planes to the more environmentally friendly materials.

Measures include making things such as life vest pouches and carpet more environmentally friendly. It actually shaves off about 472 pounds from each plane. With that much shaved off of the weight, each plane could save 9,500 gallons of fuel per year. Even if fuel was $2 a gallon, that would be $19,000 of savings per year. Considering that the company has 540 planes, that’s where the $10 million in savings comes from.

Over the next six months the new materials will be tested not only to see how well they can hold up against everyday wear and tear but also to see how Southwest’s customers like them. If they do, the environmentally friendly materials will be used throughout the entire fleet.

Airplanes do use a lot of fuel and anything that a company can do to maybe push a get a little more mileage out of the fuel that it already uses would be beneficial for not only the company’s bottom line but also for the environment. I would like to see what these environmentally conscious materials are and what they look and feel like. Sometimes people go “overboard” with environmentally conscious and make everything green or make it look recycled. It doesn’t necessarily have to be that way.

Southwest Airlines has made a spectacle of itself by proudly boasting that it would not be charging fees for what “the other guys” charge for; such as first checked bag with their “bags fly free” ad campaign. Those days might be over for the company though, as it is has had a money losing year and will have to start charging fees to help make up for some of the losses.

Soon, those who want to bard the airplane first or get a head start on boarding, called EarlyBird Check In, will have to pay an extra $10 for the convenience. While this isn’t something that all passengers will have to pay for, it was something that used to be free for everyone.

The fee will go into effect today and the move appears to be a desperate way for the airline to make up lost revenues. I don’t think that the company is having dire problems, it is just looking to make up some of the money it lost over the past year while people weren’t flying as much and during last summer while gas prices were so high.

EarlyBird Check-in means that you don’t have to wait and watch the time or set an alarm to make sure that you’re one of the first people to be able to board the plane according to marketing chief for Southwest, Kevin Krone.

Southwest has yet to do things like US Airways, who announced that it would, once again, be increasing baggage fees for the first and second checked bag to $20 and $35 when you pay for your baggage fees online. These types of fees are not only frustrating but can be misleading when you go to pay for your plane tickets on the internet. One of the worst parts, in my opinion, when it comes to paying for your checked baggage online is that you can only pay for it 24 hours before your scheduled flight is going to take off. That means that you have to be able to be at a computer and print your boarding pass sometime the day before you are scheduled to take off.

I don’t know if I would pay extra to be able to board an airplane first or close to first. However, since you are unable to pick your seat on Southwest, I may be willing to pay the extra $10 to be able to sit wherever I want and be able to sit there first.

Southwest Airlines Co. is looking to knock off one of its rivals by acquiring Frontier Airlines. Currently, the Denver-based airline carrier is operating under bankruptcy protection. Currently, there is an offer on the table that says the parent company of Republic Airways can purchase Frontier Airlines, and it has been approved by the courts. However, the offer can be canceled if a better offer pops up.

Southwest could be putting up the better offer to take the bid off the table for Republic Airways. In a statement, Southwest said that it submitted a nonbinding $113.6 million bid for the bankrupt airline. It hopes that putting forth the bid will help it shape up the proposal and finalize the purchase. Southwest currently has an August 10th deadline for submitting a binding bid. If some other qualified bidder submits an offer, there will be an auction held on August 11th.

“We are excited about the opportunity to submit a bid,” Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement. “We see a strong fit between our company cultures, a mutual commitment to high quality customer Service, and similar entrepreneurial roots.”

Southwest airlines has just recently entered back into the Denver market. In Denver it only competes with United and Frontier; if it purchases Frontier then the Denver market will likely belong mostly to Southwest.

Southwest airlines has always scored well in customer service, but its limited by rules and regulations and the fact it doesn’t fly into a lot of markets or into “in demand” airports. I understand that Love Field in Dallas is its airport, so it doesn’t fly into DFW, but I can’t catch a flight on a Southwest flight unless I decide to drive almost 4 hours to Jackson, Miss.

Well, I’m going out of town today and I was checking in online and noticed something funny; U.S. Airways is now charging $20 at the airport for your first checked bag BUT if you pay for it on the internet, then it’s still *only* $15.

So, what is the extra $5 for?

Most likely, in my opinion, the fee is just another way to stick it to the consumer. I believe that I paid enough for my ticket to not have to pay for a checked bag, but that’s not my choice. I did, however, pack the biggest suitcase I own as well as the biggest carry on allowed by this particular plane (I’m flying regional jets).

I did a little snooping around and noticed that the change took affect at the beginning of July. I also noticed that US Airways isn’t the only carrier to do this.

Delta Air Lines has also added a $5 surcharge for paying the checked bag fee at the airport instead of when the flier does online check in. However, Delta has decided not to make the change happen until August 4th. This also means that Northwest and all the Delta Express, Northwest Airlink, Mesaba, etc will be doing the same.

United Airlines and Continental have also followed suit with their own “fees for paying fees” fee.

I find it absolutely stupid that I have to pay for a checked bag, now I have to pay a fee because of the fee if I don’t want to pay for the bag on the internet.

Airlines’ rules are strange, along with TSA regulations. This is why I’m getting to the airport at 10:30 for a flight that leaves at 12:45.

Texas currently boasts two of the nation’s cities with the lowest unemployment rates. With the national unemployment rate being around 9.5%, Houston has a rate of only 6.3%. Recognized for it’s impressive business environment, Houston may be able to provide more than just a job that people can “get by” with, but an actual career they can build upon. Houston is home to 20 of the best large companies as well as 19 of the best small companies in the nation.

Dallas is number two on the list of cities with the lowest unemployment. Some of the country’s top companies are headquartered in Dallas, including Exxon Mobil, Southwest Airlines, and Texas Instruments.

Both cities also have a relatively low cost of living.

Other cities that are a good place to live when you’re trying to build a career are Minneapolis. The city has 3M, General Mills, and PepsiAmericas which all employ thousands of people. Even though the employment rate is 8.7%, it’s still below the national average and those who are employed have a median income of $65,091, which is above the national average of $50,233.

Boston also makes the list, but the cost of living there is higher than the average. The unemployment rate is only 7.2% there as well.

Pittsburgh was number four on the list. The city’s biggest industries (health care, technology, and education) are all recession resistant. The city also has a lower than average cost of living and a $10.8 billion stake in the technology sector.

These are just a few options when it comes time to seek out a new job and you’re willing to relocate anywhere in the country. I find it ironic that, other than Texas, these cities all lie in the eastern United States. I do suppose it makes sense though, because of all the problems with housing and unemployment rates that have been skyrocketing in the western part of the country.

The reported net income for AirTran was $28.7 million. When compared to a net LOSS of $34.8 million in the first quarter 2008, the company is doing much better.

AirTran CEO Bob Fornaro said “Our ability to report a profit today is rooted in the difficult decisions we made last year. AirTran Airways was among the first airlines to react to the changing economic environment and we are among the first to show signs of recovery.”

This news comes after Southwest Airlines (another low cost carrier) posted a loss, but continues its hiring practices.

Here’s a message to Delta, perhaps if you follow the methods of these low cost carriers (like not charging for the first checked bag) then maybe you won’t have to cut every single corner to pull a profit.

Dallas-based Southwest Airlines was one of the few major carriers to add employees in the latest period. Southwest grew its work force by 1,473 workers in the year-to-year February period and has more than 35,543 workers total.

Fort Worth-based American Airlines Inc., a subsidiary of AMR Corp. (NYSE: AMR) saw its number of full-time employees in February drop 4.4 percent from 73,200 last year to 69,900 in the most recent period. AMR Corp’s regional carrier American Eagle also experienced a 5 percent drop in full-time employees in February, with the airline recording 9,214 jobs in the most recent 2009 survey, down from 9,704 for February 2008.

Southwest has carried out its distinction as a low-cost carrier that cares about its employees. Unlike other carriers, Southwest knows what matters in the long run rather than what will profit them in the short run. While other carriers were charging for the first checked bag, Southwest stayed true to its low cost nature.

I have also had nothing but wonderful experience with the airline. The only complaint I have is that seating is first come, first serve. However, it is still a small inconvenience when compared to the cost of traveling on a different airline.

We live closer to Memphis, TN which does not have a Southwest terminal in the airport. However, with other airlines charging more for fares and bag fees, it is cheaper to drive to Jackson, MS or Little Rock, AR to get to an airport that Southwest flies to than to fly on Delta, Northwest, American Airlines, etc…

I am getting tired of extremely small measures airlines are taking to cut costs. They are nickel and diming the consumer to death. Hopefully I never have to fly US Airways on a long trip and get thirsty. The next thing they’re going to do is charge to use the toilet. Ridiculous!